McCall to stay on until 2019

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ADM
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McCall to stay on until 2019

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[tag=image]http://www.ulsterrugby.com/images/news/ ... 950_80.jpg[/tag][tag=content]Ulster Rugby have revealed that prop Kyle McCall has signed a contract extension with the province, keeping him at the Kingspan Stadium until 2019.

The loosehead, who was named the BT Young Player of the Year at the Ulster Awards Dinner, has had a superb season in which he started five of Ulster’s six Champions’ Cup games and scored his first senior try against Oyonnax in January.

McCall, 24, made his senior debut in March 2013 at the RDS against Leinster and made three more appearances before he was awarded with his first start against the Newport-Gwent Dragons in November last year.

McCall commented that he was delighted to be staying on with his native province on a long-term deal.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming through the system at Ulster Rugby,” he said. “Personally, this season has been particularly pleasing because I have played a lot more than I expected to.

“I’m grateful to Les [Kiss] for giving me an opportunity to prove myself this year. To make my first senior start and then to get my first try were two very proud moments for me and my family.

“I want to continue to work hard to develop my core skills and try to push my game on to the next level. Hopefully I can cement a starting position next season and contribute to a successful Ulster team in both the PRO12 and Europe.

“Les is trying to build something special here and the players have really bought into it.”


Ulster’s Director of Rugby, Les Kiss, commented on how much of a boost it was for the province to keep hold of one of their up-and-coming young stars.

“This is another great boost for us, following on from the news that Stuart McCloskey has also signed a contract extension,” Kiss claimed. “Kyle established himself as a regular in the senior squad this season with a string of brilliant performances.

“He was particularly impressive on the European stage as he rose to the challenge with some eye-catching displays in the scrum, with ball in hand and around the park.

“His incessant work rate has seen him earn a reputation as one of the best trainers in the squad. At 24, he is still young for a front row player, and with his huge potential and desire to be the best that he can be, I’ve no doubt that he can become a future international.

“I have to say, Bryn Cunningham has done some great work in not only attracting world class talent like Marcell Coetzee and Charles Piutau to Ulster, but also in retaining our highly talented home-grown players.”
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